Thank you Dawnywoo and MouseyMouse for all the bee tips, it's really bringing back memories . I used to tog up in all the gear when I was about 12 to help Dad, I remember catching swarms and there being great big vats of sugar syrup on the Rayburn to feed the bees during the winter. I do love bees. I don't ever remember any spring or autumn cleaning of hives though, maybe that's where we went wrong.

It's raining again here, but I cheered myself up by going to the fishmongers and spending a ridiculous amount and haggling for a bargain - a whole brill and a lemon sole (mahoooooosive!) for £30 instead of £42

Just saw that Flaming June pic Maud. I love that women have real-sized arms in 'olden days' paintings. I bet Monty appreciates such things in women, he's a robust sort of man's man, isn't he? [inappropriate daydream of Monty's manhandling]

rhihaf that's what my dad does, boils the sugar syrup on the Aga! We go to the cash and carry and buy about sixty kilos of sugar. Probably not much has changed in hundreds of years regarding beekeeping, though maybe a few extra rules and regs from the British Beekeeping Association.

That fish sounds a bargain. Dad also does a lot of fishing although sadly doesn't catch such interesting fish!

Dawnywoo if you're about then feel free to start the new thread as you suggested the title

Constructed the arches for the runner beans today as they are springing up nicely. All I have to do is agree with DH about where the arch is to go. I want it by the gate to the back garden so you have to walk through it as that would be the obvious thing to do with an arch! DH I think would prefer me to tuck it out of sight .

Who's up for a potting shed party at GW time tonight? I have elderberry and some blackberry vodka...

We had a wonderful day at Malvern today. The show gardens were fascinating. It was particularly nice to go without the DC, so relaxing. I bought lots of seeds, some fabulous cream and yellow geums, some veg and tomato plants, a huge tin bath for £14 and an old stone angel to sit on the shelf.

I was proud that I recognised about half of the plants I was looking at. If I could have, I would have bought an really massive olive tree. They were lovely.

Perhaps they have a researcher for the programme who lurks on this thread. If so, please could there be something about peonies and tree peonies when the time comes. Violas are lovely though- there were some really fantastic pots planted up in a local Dobbies garden centre last week.I saw GW on an actual television today and I have to say that Carol's teeth are terrible Almost worse than her hands. I know appearances aren't everything but really, I had to draw my chair back a bit. I wonder what happened to Rachel and her army garden. Monty looked nice.Is it just me or did anyone else think the Malvern show gardens were uninspiring? I think the front and back gardens of a lot of the people on this thread are probably much nicer.